Spring-pad construction



H. A. STEELE SPRING PAD CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet I1.VVENTOR. Z m 4 QZIMM Nov. 6, 1928.

H. A. STEELE SPRING PAD CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

H. A. STEELE SPRING PAD CONSTRUCTION Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,652

Filed septpl, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY ALBERT STEELE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITYCOMPANY IN (1., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPRING-PAID CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed September 1, 1826. Serial No. 132,965.

This invention relates to spring pads such as are used in garment andlaundry pressing machinery and in other situations and has for itsobject a spring pad construction bywhich any inequalities in thethickness of the article being pressed are compensated for and furtheron account of the arrangement and character of the springs a spring padcan be built at a relatively small price and is particularlyeflicientand durable in use.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a'longitudinal sectional View of a, spring pad embodying myinvention, the

same being shown as applied to the lowerpressing element or buck of aconventional garment or laundry platen pressing machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the spring pad, the distance orspacing between the springs being magnified.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view ill ustrating the endwise movementof the supporting element or plate during compression of the springs.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the actionof the spring coils when compensating for the inequalities in thearticle being pressed.

Figure 5 is a detail View, partly broken away, illustrating the way inwhich the ends of each spring are connected to the supporting element orplate.

Figure 6 is an end view looking to the right or left in Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation showing this spring pad applied tothe roll of a flat work ironer.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional, view of parts seen in Figure 7 Figure9 is afragmentary sectional View of the form of spring shown in Figure 1applied to the roll of a flat work ironer, the endwise movement of theintermediate supporting element being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 10 is an edge view of this spring pad applied to a cufi ironer,the spring being shown in its operated position.

Figure 11 is a detail view illustrating the connection of the springshown in Figurescline to their supporting surface so that the individualcoils swing toward said supportmg surface when the compressing force is.applied sidewise to the coils of the springs tending to distort thecoils into aflattened or elliptical form.

The springs may be applied to a flat surface or a cylindrical orrounding surface. In

the construction in Figure 1, springs 1 and 2 lie on their sides onopposite sides of a supporting element or plate 3 interposed between thesprings, the springs being secured at their ends to the plate so thatthey are under tension and their coils are inclined relatively to theplate as'shown in Figures 3 and 5. Preferably, as seen in Figure 5, theupper portion of one end coil which upper portion is farthest removedfrom the plate is pulled down to the plate as at t and secured at 5thereto while the coil 6 at the other end of the spring is secured tothe plate at the portion thereof normally contiguous to the plate. Owingto the fastening of the springs to the plate, the coils'are caused totake an incline.

'In Figure 1, the spring pad is shown as applied to a fiat face or tothe buck of a pressing machine. The lower layer of springs lies on theface of the buck and the upper layerof springs is covered by a suitablepadding as a sheet 7 which is overlaid by a cloth or fabric 8. Thesprings are arranged nelatively close together and usually the springson one side extend in the same direction as the springs on the otherside instead of crosswise, that 1s, in the construction shown in Figure1, the springs on the upper and lower side of the plate 3 extendlengthwise of the plate. One layer may however extend crosswise of theplate. During compression of the springs or the coils thereof, the coilsswing from their normal incline into an incline nearer a horizontalplane and in so doing the portions of the coils engaging the plate pushthe plate endwise as seen in dotted lines at 9 in Figure incline inopposite directions. Such movement of the plate avoids undue slip andfriction between the springs and the plate when the head com'pressesthework on the buck.

As seen in Figure 4 when an article is being pressed, the thickerportions as the seams 10 or buttons or other projections as 11 compressonly the underlying coils as at 12 of the upper springs 1 while thesprings 2 below the plate resist the total compression,

that is, the coils ofthe uppermost springs equalize for. inequalities inthickness of the "articles being pressed as well as coact with the lowerlayer of springs to resist the total compression. During the compressionof only part'of the coils of the springs no endwise 'm'ovement'of theplate takes place.-

v In Figures 7 and 8, the spring pad is-shown as applied to a roll of aflat Work ironer.

13 designates t-heroll supported at its ends by heads as 1 1 havingaxles 15. 16 designates the springs overlying a cylindrical plate 17 andsecured at 17 at their ends thereof with their coils inclined as clearlyseen in Figure 8 relatively to the cylindrical plate. The springs'areenclosed by the usual padding 18 and cloth 19.

In Figure 9, upper and lower layers of springs are shown which thrustagainst a cylindrically movable cylindrical plate 20, the movement ofthe plate during compression of the springs being shown in dotted linesinFigure 9. The action of the springs to compensate for inequalities inthe thickness of the work is shown at 21, Figure 8.

22 is the usual heated so called shoe of a fiat work ironer.

In Figures 10 and 11, the spring pad is shown as applied to the buck ofa cutf ironer, that is, a buck having inclined sides.

23 designates the springs overlaid by a padding 24 and a fabric or cloth25;

In Figure 10, the buck is formed A shape and preferably the springsextend from the lower ends of the A formation over the apexv cheaplycompared with the cost of other spring padding.

What I.claim is: A spring pad comprising a supportingelement, coiledsprings lying on their vsides on said element, the springs being securedat their ends to said element and arranged with theifcoils inclinedrelatively to said element, the intermediate coils of the springsthrusting against and being unsecured to and slidably engaged with thesupporting element. v/

In testimony whereof, I have/hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, inthe'county of Onondaga, and State of New day of August, 1926.

HARRY ALBERT'STEELE.

York, this 4th

